Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Jacob Trouba attended USA Hockey's Select 15 Player Development Camp before playing for the Compuware U16 midget team. Trouba scored 14 goals with 14 assists and 40 penalty minutes in 38 regular season games and in 11 playoff games he scored 4 goals with 10 assists and 12 penalty minutes. Trouba skated in three games for Compuware's U18 team.

2010-11: Trouba spent the season with the U.S. NTDP, splitting time between the USHL squad, U-17, and U-18 teams. In 31 games, Trouba scored 3 goals and added 4 assists for 7 points to go along with 31 penalty minutes. In 37 games for the U-17 team, Trouba scored 6 goals and added 13 assists for 19 points. In 18 games for the U-18 team, Trouba scored 2 goals and added 5 assists for 7 points. Trouba played for the U.S. at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, scoring 2 goals and adding 7 assists for 9 points in 5 games for the silver medalists. Trouba also played for the USA at the 2011 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 1 goal in 6 games for the gold medal squad. Trouba committed to playing at the University of Michigan in 2012-13.

2011-12: Trouba skated in 54 games for the U.S. NTDP and represented the USA at the 2012 U20 and U18 World Junior Championship tournaments. Trouba scored 9 goals with 23 assists and had 71 PMs. Six of his nine goals came on the power play. With the USA U20 team in Calgary, he had two assists and was -1 in six games as the Americans finished seventh. At the U18 tournament, he had 1 goal and 2 assists in six games as the USA won its fourth straight gold medal at that level. Trouba was ranked ninth amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft.

2012-13: Trouba played 37 games for the University of Michigan as a freshman and represented the USA in two international tournaments. He scored 12 goals with 17 assists and was -9 with 88 penalty minutes for the Wolverines before signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Jets in April 2013. Michigan finished seventh in the CCHA, failing to win 20 games for the first time since head coach Red Berenson's third season in 1986-87 but went 8-0-1 in nine games and nearly earned an NCAA tournament bid; falling to Notre Dame, 3-1, in the CCHA championship game. Playing for USA's bronze medal-winning squad at the 2013 IIHF World Championship Trouba scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -1 with 2 penalty minutes in seven games. The USA U20 team defeated Sweden, 3-2, to win a gold medal at the 2013 World Junior Championship and in seven games Trouba scored 4 goals with 5 assists and was +2 with 10 penalty minutes.

Talent Analysis

Trouba is a defenseman with size that really thrives in the physical game. He can lay some bone-crushing hits and is never one to back down when challenged. Trouba is a fierce competitor and plays with a good deal of confidence.
Part of what makes Trouba such a highly regarded player is his ability to use his large frame and physicality advantageously, particularly in separating opposing players from the puck. And that attribute will become even more evident as he continues to fill out his 6’2” frame.

Trouba is an excellent skater with speed, agility and great feet. He also skates exceedingly well with the puck too.

While he didn’t show it much during the World Junior Championship, Trouba also possesses excellent offensive skills too. He has a very powerful shot and is quite adept at moving the puck. He can also be found jumping up into play as well. Some scouts project Trouba as an offensive defenseman, but he’ll likely blossom into a two-way defenseman due to his sound play in the defensive zone.

Many scouts point to Trouba’s decision-making as one of his greatest weaknesses. His decisions at times are erratic and he is sometimes slow to reacting to developing plays. Some scouts also have questions about Trouba’ hockey sense as well. But with maturity and development, Trouba should be able to improve in those areas.

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Photo: University of Michigan defenseman and Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Trouba has been a force for Team USA at the 2013 World Juniors (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

While it is difficult to call a player chosen in the top 10 of the NHL Draft a steal, the Winnipeg Jets have to be feeling good about what they've seen from their 2012 first selection, defenseman Jacob Trouba, at the 2013 World Junior Championship.

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Photo: Though the Columbus Blue Jackets added several important prospects this past off-season, none were more prominent than defenseman Ryan Murray, who was selected second overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. (Derek Leung/Getty Images)

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Photo: Washington Capitals prospect Riley Barber had a successful start to his college career, posting eight points during the month of October for Miami University (courtesy of Tim G. Zechar / Icon SMI)

The first edition of the 2012-13 College Prospects Notebook takes a look some notable (and not so notable) prospect performances from around college hockey. Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are current as of Oct. 31.

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Photo: Forward Patrice Cormier (left) is one of several Winnipeg Jets prospects who could play in the NHL if not for the current lockout. (JC Salas/Icon SMI)

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